‘Death Wish’ biker overtakes two cars before having close shave with HGV

A RECKLESS ‘Death Wish’ biker has been captured on camera overtaking two cars before having a close shave with a heavy goods vehicle in Lincolnshire.

The near miss happened on Tuesday May 18, at 5.50pm on the A15 Northbound between Langtoft and Baston.

Both Giles Thirsk, the dash cam driver, and the driver of the HGV cab, were forced to take evasive action and put wheels on their nearside on the white line edging of road to avoid the man riding a Harley Davidson Sportster.

Road safety experts have said the biker is more from the school or ‘Death Wish’ than ‘Easy Rider’.

Giles says it looked closer in real life than it does watching back on cameras fitted with wide angle lenses.

He shared the footage online and wrote: “Risky overtake, doesn’t look as bad watching it back but it’s not obvious that I swerved away from bike putting two wheels onto the grass.

“If I hadn’t he would have hit me or the truck – also appears to has a unregistered number plate.”

One user commented: “These wide angle lenses actually make it look like there’s more room than there actually is, that looked close enough to give everyone a bum clench moment.”

Another wrote: “No fu*ks were given yet another biker on a death wish!”

A third said: “What an absolute tw*t, it won’t be long before he will be scraped off the tarmac.”

While a fourth added: “Think bike! Because they can’t think for themselves.”

Edmund King, AA president, said: “This biker is certainly more from the school of ‘Death Wish’ than ‘Easy Rider’.

“Such a close over-taking manoeuvre not only puts his life at risk but the lives of others particularly if those drivers take evasive action.

“All riders and drivers need to be more patient on the roads and not gamble with their own lives or others’ lives.”

Derived the 1969 film of the same name ‘Easy Rider’ is someone who is chilled and enjoys the open road, not very career or money-driven, laid back and a seeker of individual freedom.